Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer announced at the weekend that a Commonwealth Review Team will shortly arrive in the islands to assist the government in strengthening the nation’s institutions. He said that the Review Team will focus on the vexed relationship between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Barbuda Local Council.
The Prime Minister made the arrangements for the Commonwealth team to visit the country during a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General Mr. Don McKinnon at the July meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Grenada.
The team is expected to hold meetings with the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, and travel to Barbuda for consultations with the Barbuda Council and the public. Prime Minister Spencer said that the team which reviewed the Operation of Arrangements between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Barbuda Local Council in 2000 views the relationship between both islands as one of open antagonism and discord.
Mr Spencer became Prime Minister last March when his UPP (United Progressive Party) ousted Lester Bird's Antigua Labour Party after more than fifty years of political domination by the Bird family with a landslide victory, winning 14 of the 17 seats, whilst the Mr Bird’s Antigua Labour Party only managed to clinch victory in three seats. The ALP administration had been dogged by allegations of corruption for years.
“The presence of the UPP in government has profoundly altered the relationship between Barbuda and Antigua. The Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker is a Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister. He has an office in the Office of the Prime Minister,” said Mr Spencer.
Prime Minister Spencer noted that it is also his intention to establish very shortly an Office of the Prime Minister in Barbuda facilitating meeting with Barbudans on a regular basis during scheduled visits.
“With the involvement of Minister Trevor Walker, the central government is as vigorous in its investment promotion efforts on behalf of Barbuda as they are for Antigua. Barbuda can now look forward to a modern ferry service, as well as to a dedicated airline service,” Prime Minister Spencer stated.
The Government has frequently stated that Barbuda will feature prominently in its investment and development plans for the twin-island nation.
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